Every now and then life throws us something other than a "high hard one." Such was the case at this year's Grand National Roadster Show and the awarding of the America's Most Beautiful Roadster trophy—all 9-plus feet—to a phaeton, yes a phaeton! (Did you know this year another tier was added to the trophy causing it to "grow" another 4 inches; and it was refurbished by Advanced Plating. It should be noted that the permanent trophy, on exhibit each year as the centerpiece of the GNRS, exhibits each winner's name for generations to see— literally, history in the making.)

Wes Rydell, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is no stranger to hot rods, or award-winning ones for that matter. In 2002, he won the Detroit Autorama's Ridler award with the "Grand Master" and now he has taken home the 2014 AMBR with "Black Bowtie," the '35 Chevy phaeton you see. (He continued to drive the '35 phaeton as a stocker while turning the '35 Chevy Master into the "Grand Master.") There's a world of difference between the two awards; although each is equally as prestigious, each serves a different goal. Simply put, the AMBR has grown into an award that acknowledges essence over substance while the Ridler acknowledges substance over essence. A play on words, for some maybe, but should you have the good fortune to see each car in its element we believe you would experience one of life's "aha" moments.

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In conversation it became apparent Wes wanted to build a hot rod but something more. His '35 Chevy phaeton is clearly that, being a hot rodder who likes to get out on the open roads, and North Dakota has plenty, he wanted something that would give him the roadster experience combined with ergonomic excellence required for a long haul. Did we mention that he had some passenger requirements; Wes wanted to bring along his wife, Vivian, and a few friends. Your basic roadster doesn't do well with a "party of four" but a phaeton does; it's made for foursomes.

Historically we would say "compilation projects," builds that are moved from one to shop to another, don't fare well. Here's the exception to the rule. Wes had driven his '35 Chevy for years as a stocker and had always liked the look and feel of this phaeton. One day the proverbial light bulb went on and it was time to modernize. It began at Foose Design where Chip Foose visualized what the rest of us could only hope to see until he put pencil to paper. Time was spent in Wes' own shop Rydell's Toy Shop and forward motion began but it wasn't until the "miraculous hands" at Marcel's did the phaeton really begin to materialize. As is always the case someone has to take charge and bring a project to fruition and that happened upon arrival at Troy Trepanier's shop, Rad Rides by Troy (RRT). When completed the hot rod rolled out under its own power and onto the carpet at the Pomona Fairplex and into history.

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The foundation for this phaeton is based on a pair of Roadster Shop framerails that were modified and lengthened by RRT to accommodate the independent suspension. Moving from rear-to-front we can see a Heidts IRS that's outfitted with a limited-slip differential from Eaton, a Tru-Trac unit that spins 3.50 gears that propels custom halfshafts. Stopping power is supplied by Wilwood through 12-inch rotors while bounce is controlled by RideTech shocks and Hyperco airbags. We see more Heidts in front with an IFS but this was heavily modified by the wrenches at RRT. Entwined into the IFS are 2-inch dropped spindles, power rack-and-pinion steering twisted by an ididit column, 1-inch antiroll bar, RideTech shocks, ABS electric power brakes with Kugel 90-degree swing pedals, and more Wilwood disc brakes.

4/15The 383-inch stroker SBC was built by Ben Adams of Adams Automotive that utilizes an MSD ignition, a Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine belt system, and a billet Powermaster alternator. The mechanical fuel injection made famous on Corvettes and other GM cars was the old Rochester unit. This may look like a first-generation FI but in fact it’s a modern Ram Jet EFI made to look old.

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At the corners you will see one-off wheels from Curtis Machine that measure 14x7 and 15x8. Bet you haven't heard or seen 14- and 15-inch wheels used on a hot rod in some time? (Wes tells us he has three sets of wheels and tires to address the mood he happens to be in that day. We saw set #2, wide whites, on the phaeton at this year's Detroit Autorama.) Diamond Back blackwall rubber was used in the photos on this day.

It takes power to move whichever set of wheels and tires Wes finds appealing and being a Chevy, and being involved with Chevrolet dealerships, you can guess what rests under the hood. Yes, it's a Chevy small-block sporting 383 inches and the Chevrolet Performance Hot Cam (0.525 lift) but it's the induction we find so appealing. For what appears to be a late-'50s–era Rochester mechanical fuel injection in truth it's a highly modified modern Ram Jet EFI (based on a Big Stuff 3 EFI system) that's been massaged to give the appearance from decades past but retains modern driveability. RRT also fabricated the "original" looking yet modern functioning air cleaner. Iron Vortec heads were used with COMP Cams valves, springs, and retainers with vintage-appearing Corvette valve covers. Keeping this potent SBC running cool is an aluminum radiator in conjunction with a Dodge Viper electric fan all by RRT coupled with an Edelbrock water pump. Look closely and while you are mesmerized by the vintage look to this modern powerplant don't miss the Chevy serpentine belt system. The air cleaner is another nice touch in that it looks like the generations' old air cleaner used on an early Rochester mechanical injection but it's actually a custom unit made by RRT. Linked to the 383 SBC is a 4L65E trans that received attention with Bowler custom pieces and a Lokar shifter. The driveshaft is a 3-inch-diameter aluminum tube from Mark Williams. The exhaust system is based on highly massaged Ram Horn manifolds while the pipes are 2-1/2-inch stainless steel all fabricated by RRT and run through a pair of Flowmaster Hush Power mufflers.

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The sheetmetal was modified through the handiwork of Rydell's Toy Shop and Marcel's. The fenders were moved forward and the cowl and running boards were lengthened. From here the custom metal hood was fabricated and the grille modified while at RRT. Note in back the twice pipes neatly peek out of the custom apron/pan. As for the windshield and rear glass look to AM Hot Rod Glass for bronze tinted safety glass. There is plenty of brightwork on this AMBR-winning hot rod and none other than Sherm's Custom Plating came through on this project. Now it was onto the body shop at RRT for the always time-consuming prepping for paint. The color of choice was a Diamond Black and maroon from Glasurit that was sprayed on by Adam Krauge while the subtle pinstriping was applied by Tom Evans. Appointments to the sheetmetal include the stock '35 Chevy Master headlights and modified '35 Chevy taillights while the outside mirrors are year correct.

Inside the '35 steel dash is retained with an engine-turned panel that houses early style appearing gauges from Classic Instruments. Nowadays what hot rod is complete and ready for the long haul without A/C—none! A Vintage Air A/C unit is used and there is plenty of Dynamat applied to the flooring to suppress the heat rising up through the floorboards. Plenty of wiring is needed, even on a phaeton, to run the lighting, gauges, A/C, and other accessories so RRT turned to Painless Performance for a wiring kit (fuse panel and loom) and then RRT made a few modifications to give the "performance" they needed. The ididit steering column is topped with a one-of-a-kind wheel fabricated by Lawrence Laughlin of RRT to look like a '35 Chevy. A Glide tilt front bench along with a custom rear bench are stitched in deep red satin finish leather that comes from Garrett leather along with the dark gray German square-weave carpeting and custom door panels all stitched by Adam Banks of RRT. Although you can't see the seatbelts they are made from military webbing with RRT medallions on the buckles.

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Well that about wraps it up for this year's AMBR winning roadster—yes, a phaeton is a roadster—or at least it is by the rule book.

11/15The exhaust manifolds are the always-popular Ram Horn but these were extensively massaged by RRT until they appear perfectly smooth. The primary wires appear to be vintage cloth, wrapped but hiding underneath are modern MSD plug wires.